Vibe Magazine Returns in December with Chris Brown on the Cover

For the revival of Vibe magazine—launched in 1993 by Quincy Jones and shut down in June 2009—the InterMedia Partners, LP–backed brand wanted someone big on the cover, someone who'd generate publicity through the December 8 on-sale date and someone who'd—of course—help boost the magazine's sales. This week, they announced to awaiting fans the celebrity they'd chosen: hip-hop artist Chris Brown. And the hoopla began. Brown—the young star who initially pleaded not guilty to assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna in February—is certainly big, but currently for less-than-reputable reasons. This isn't Brown's first public appearance since the domestic violence incident—he's been on Larry King Live and even created a YouTube video in an attempt to apologize to his fans—but unlike other appearances, the hearsay surrounding this cover is less indicative of his apologetic dues and more of his comeback. Some of those against Vibe's choice of cover star claim that it might seem—at least to the young boys of America once vying to be like him—that negative publicity is just as good as any, and that his actions are being celebrated. The other thing: Does anyone really believe Brown will reclaim the kind of popularity he once knew, or is this all just to sell magazines?

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On the flip side, Rihanna is opening up to the media about the incident just in time for her own CD release. Rated R is set to go on "Super Monday," November 23, 2009. She agreed to a three-part tell-all with Diane Sawyer, which began this morning on Good Morning America at 7 a.m. and will continue tomorrow morning, and again tomorrow night on 20/20 at 10 p.m. She also opened up for the December 2009 issue of Glamour.